Postexercise hypotension induced by low-intensity resistance exercise in hypertensive women receiving captopril.

Objective: The present study investigated the effect of a single bout of low-intensity resistance exercise on recovery blood pressure in hypertensive women receiving captopril.

Methods: Twelve essential hypertensive women, who were receiving captopril, underwent two experimental sessions: control (C - 40 min of seated rest) and low-intensity resistance exercise (E - six resistance exercises, three sets, 20 repetitions, 40% of one repetition maximum). Clinic blood pressure was measured in the laboratory, before and for 120 min after exercise or rest. Moreover, ambulatory blood pressure was also measured for 21 h after exercise or rest.

Results: Clinic blood pressures decreased significantly after exercise (systolic blood pressure =-12+ or -3 mmHg and diastolic blood pressure =-6+ or -2 mmHg, P<0.05), but not after rest. Mean awake blood pressures (systolic: C=132+ or -5 mmHg vs. E=125+ or -4 mmHg and diastolic: C=83+ or -3 mmHg vs. E=78+ or -2 mmHg, P<0.05) were significantly lower in the E than in the C session, while 21-h (systolic blood pressures: C=128+ or -5 mmHg vs. E=123+ or -4 mmHg; and diastolic blood pressures: C=80+ or -3 mmHg vs. E=76+ or -2 mmHg) and asleep (systolic blood pressures: C=120+ or -7 mmHg vs. E=118+ or -5 mmHg; and diastolic blood pressures: C=73+ or -4 mmHg vs. E=71+ or -3 mmHg) blood pressures did not differ between the experimental sessions. Moreover, there was a positive correlation between blood pressure measured in the C session and blood pressure reduction observed in the E session, showing that blood pressure decrease was greater when blood pressure level was higher.

Conclusion: In hypertensive women receiving captopril, a single bout of low-intensity resistance exercise reduces blood pressure. This reduction persists for 10 h, during the awake period, while patients were engaged in their daily living activities. It was greater in patients with higher ambulatory blood pressure.